When My Younger Sister Enrolled in a Female Knight Academy, She Somehow Became a National Hero. Or R

Chapter 21 – To Be Held Responsible for Hurting the Duke’s Daughter

Shortly after returning from a somewhat eventful journey, I received a summons from the Sakuragi Duke.

So it’s that.

Will it really be the kind of development where I’m held responsible because the Duke’s daughter got hurt?

I hope it will be enough for me to commit seppuku alone.

I have to do everything I can to prevent Suzuha from being affected…!

I went to the Duke’s residence with such a grim determination. Alone, of course.

I told Suzuha to run away immediately if anything happens to me.

But what happens on arrival at the Duke’s house is the exact opposite of what I had expected.

Yuzuriha’s father, who is the head of the family, himself greeted me at the door and bent down deeply to me.

“It looks like you saved my daughter’s life this time. I thank you.”

“EHHH!?!?!?”

“…What are you surprised about?”

“Well, it’s obvious! I thought I was going to be beheaded for being the reason Yuzuriha-san got hurt!”

“…It seems that I need to have a thorough talk with you at once.”

I was then taken into the study.

The study room of the head of the Sakuragi Duke family.

I, a commoner, had no way of knowing that not only ordinary guests, but even close members of the nobility were not allowed in there, and that only those deemed fit to lead the duke family or the country in the future were allowed in.

As I looked around the luxurious interior with a stupid expression on my face, the Duke urged me to take a seat.

“First of all, I’d like to say that my daughter has behaved badly this time. I apologize.”

“…What?”

“It’s about Yuzuriha’s torso that was pierced.”

“T-That was because she was trying to help me.”

“You deliberately created an opening to lure the demon in, didn’t you?”

“…H-How did you come to that conclusion…?”

“I heard from Touko. When you seemed to be in danger, your sister seemed calm.”

“……”

“If you were really in a pinch, based on what has been said and done so far, your sister would have thrown herself out first. But she didn’t. Then there’s only one answer.”

“…If Suzuha threw herself at me in a real pinch, that would be a problem too though…”

Although I feel like the Duke’s line of reasoning is quite loose, it’s impressive how accurately he can grasp the situation just by listening to the story. It’s as expected from a high noble.

“But in any case, it is true that Yuzuriha-san saved my life.”

“Hou. Has my daughter been useful?”

“Absolutely. It was thanks to Yuzuriha-san’s intrusion that the other three of us were able to drive away the wandering white-haired vampire unharmed. It’s frustrating that we let it escape, though…”

“That was a calamity that could have destroyed a nation. Just driving it away alone is already something remarkable. Don’t get conceited.”

“…Yes.”

The Duke was harsh in his words, but there was a kindness in his eyes.

I can see that he dared to speak harshly to me so that I would not drag out my regrets.

As expected of a great nobleman.

“So that’s the story. My daughter’s injury was her own fault, and since it has been healed, there’s no problem. As for me, I must show you my gratitude for protecting my daughter.”

“No, I did it because it was only natural, so there’s no need to—”

“If it was natural for you to protect my daughter, then it’s also natural for me to thank you for that. Those who can’t even properly show their appreciation are not only unworthy of being nobles, but also unworthy of being human—Surely, you wouldn’t dare try to make me unworthy of being human?”

If the Duke has said so, I can only shake my head in silence.

Even for me, if Suzuha were to be saved by someone, even if the other person said it was only natural, I would certainly show my gratitude to that person.